Harry Potter had refused sleeping potions. He was starting to wonder if that was a smart idea. When sleep finally found him after the three older wizards and the healer had left him alone for the night his dreams were plagued with an alternate version of events. Hermione and Sirius were gone, Hermione to the curse and Sirius falling in slow motion through the mysterious veil. After waking in a cold sweat, a restless Harry slowly moved across the gap from his own cot to the chair next to Hermione's. Tears filled his eyes as he watched her, pale and barely breathing, Harry knew that she wouldn't be able to respond to his words, but the words started flowing and there was nothing that he could do to keep them in any longer.
"I'm sorry 'Mione, I shouldn't have rushed in. I should have waited like you said. I put the people I care about in danger by not finding a different way. I put my family in danger Hermione, the Weasley's have done nothing but support me and treat me as one of their own, and what do I do? I take my family, my brother and sister and I put them in the path of Death Eaters. I drew the Order there, Remus, Tonks…. Sirius... you. I could have lost all of you because of a stupid rash decision." Harry sat in the chair staring at the hand that he was holding as he spoke to her "How can any of you ever forgive me?" He gave a half hearted laugh "I'm sorry it's taken me this long to realize exactly what you mean to me 'Mione, I'm sorry I was so bloody stupid. Harry Potter, Boy Who Lived, Quidditch player, Slayer of Basilisks, TirWizard Champion, Vanquisher of Dementors, bloody 'Chosen One' and I didn't even have the sense or courage to see what was right in front of my face. I don't deserve any of you."
In the darkened hospital ward Harry Potter had failed to notice the third, read-headed member of the golden trio who had waited until it was reasonably late (and in his opinion too long since they had told him Harry woke up early this morning), borrowed Harry's invisibility cloak and the Marauder's map, and went to the ward in order to watch over his best friends. When Harry had been jerked out of sleep by nightmares Ron had been laying in a cot directly opposite his, and watched the whole exchange. He watched the boy who lived through new eyes. Ron Weasley felt ashamed for every time he had been jealous of the Boy Who Lived. Ron watched as Harry spoke to an unconscious Hermione and felt for his friend in a way that he never had before. After the monologue, Ron slowly sat up and watched Harry Potter bring their best friend's hand to his lips holding it there while finally bringing his eyes back to her face, and he knew that Harry needed them both, he was no longer star-struck over Harry Potter. What he saw before him was his brother in all but blood, and he was broken. Ron rose slowly from the cot and made his way over to Harry who was startled to find a hand on his shoulder. Harry looked worried, and Ron knew that the worry he saw in his brother's eyes was due in part to him. He didn't mention the words that Harry had spoken or the ones that were implied, instead he looked into his eyes and said "It's ok Harry, together we'll make sure our family is safe"
When Madam Pomfrey rose early the next morning, her heart softened upon seeing Harry and Ron in neighboring chairs, Ron slumped over near the foot of the bed snoring, and Harry near the middle, still gripping onto Hermione's hand as if it were the only thing keeping him anchored to this world. She couldn't even bring herself to fuss at the two. Instead, she woke both boys, quickly checked Harry and insisted that they both go get some breakfast and spend some time out of the ward. She assured them that she would send for them should Hermione's condition changed "She'll be fine, and you both need some fresh air. You're still on the mend though Mister Potter, and you will be required to return after your meal I'm not completely releasing you from my care just yet". Neither boy wanted to leave, but they also didn't want to incur the wrath of the formidable healer. The cloud over Harry was obvious as they continued down the corridor, Ron spoke up "Harry, let's just go to the Room of Requirement. Dobby can bring us breakfast if we ask, and the room can give us any thing we need. We don't have to be around anyone else just yet." Harry looked at his friend "Yeah... yeah, you're right, let's do that I'm not quite up for facing anyone else just yet" and so they continued on, making their way up to the seventh floor, and solitude from the rest of the school. When they entered through the newly formed door Harry had observed just enough to be surprised at the room's current form. It had provided them with a comfortable sitting room with plush couches, shelves and shelves of books, and what was assumed to be large enchanted windows providing them with a view of the lake and forbidden forest. Harry walked over to the windows, barely hearing Ron call out to Dobby and the resounding pop that filled the room as the tiny elf appeared. The conversation that followed between the Elf and his ginger friend was background noise to Harry, he just could not seem to focus on the actual words that they were speaking to each other and continued his pursuit of the grounds. Two more pops signaled his exit and return a short time later. Harry found himself brought back to the moment by a hand on his shoulder, turning to meet his friend's concerned gaze he was startled to find that a large breakfast had been set out for them. "Come on Harry, a little food with fix you up right". Harry seriously doubted his friend's words, but still made his way over to the table where Dobby was still standing, he was watching him with an air that rivaled Ron's. Harry Potter was more than just the Boy Who Lived to the tiny Elf, He was kind and brave, a true friend. Harry sat and attempted to eat while not even taking notice of what he was trying to put into his mouth.
Harry and Ron sat in silence for a while, surprisingly for once both boys took their time eating, one of the very few times in his life Ron Weasley would feel like something he enjoyed so much normally, was in fact a chore. Harry looked at the elf standing off to the side and finally the silence was broken "Dobby, you don't have to stand there like that, come and join us. You've brought more than enough food for ten people". The little Elf 's eyes watered slightly, but progress had been made, and he joined the two wizards at the table as a third plate and cup materialized on the table. "Harry Potter sir, How is miss 'Miney? Dobby has heard the Headmaster and Professor Cat talking, they's be worried. Be sending for the miss' parents." Harry needed to tell Ron what had happened in the ward since he'd woken up, so he took in a deep breath and finally raised his eyes from his plate again "She'll be ok, they say, but they want to give her blood transfusions to help raise the level of magic in her body.. to help her heal, and maybe even wake up faster. Pomfrey was able to get what she needed from Sirius." Harry was quiet for a moment and pounded a fist on the table, rattling the dishes, "I was so stupid, so rash" he whispered "I thought I was in danger of losing Sirius, and I put so many other people I care about in danger in the process", Ron took a moment to choose his words carefully "Harry… we all chose to go with you, knowing there was the chance for a fight. We took it, and each one of us would do it again. Just like you would, but not only for Sirius, for each of us as well. I know you feel responsible, but there isn't anything to forgive Harry." Harry's shoulders slumped, he placed his elbows on the table and interlaced his hands behind his neck "I appreciate what you're trying to do Ron, but I can't shake it. I can't shake the guilt until I know she'll be ok, really ok. Part of me wants her to wake up and yell at me, but I know she won't and that makes me feel even worse. I should have listened to her. I'll never disregard her advice like that again."
Ron looked down at his plate, whatever he thought he felt for Hermione, he realized that it was nothing to how Harry felt about her. Something had changed in his best friend, and something was starting to change in him as well. He was starting to realize how idiotic he'd been, since the very beginning of his friendship with Harry Potter. Harry Potter was not who he thought, not who he expected, and he was thoroughly embarrassed as he thought back on some of his actions over the years. Then it hit him, every time he had fought with Harry, and Hermione too, he'd never once offered a real apology, he just thought that it was a given through his actions. It was then and there that Ron Weasley decided that he would be a better friend, a better brother. They hadn't been born to the same family, but they had chosen each other, and that was a powerful bond as well.
The tree of them sat slowly finishing up their food for some time. Harry and Ron bid their elf friend goodbye and started the slow journey back through the castle to the hospital wing. The day was much too bright and cheery for how they felt, and the sun's warmth barely registered to the two extremely soul weary boys.
** Author note: I've always had huge issues with the way Ron acts towards his relationships with Harry and Hermione. I get being frustrated, but when two people have shown you so often what you mean to them, I just don't get his reactions. To top it all off its repetitive behavior, having a friend like that would be extremely trying. I wanted to really show a change in his perspective in this story, I think that Ron's character is entirely capable of showing the same dedication to his friends that they have shown to him.